The film opening combines horror and thriller elements, featuring two distinct sequences: one with characters fleeing in the woods and another with detectives discussing murders. It challenges typical genre conventions by employing a unique first-person, handheld filming style reminiscent of found footage and omitting diegetic sound for added realism. The settings, while conventional, are used in a way that personalizes the characters and introduces intriguing questions that enhance the thriller aspect.

1. In what ways does your film
opening use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. As a thriller/horror, our opening attempted to include both the intention of
violence to coincide with horror, and an investigation into the source of the
enigma to follow conventions of a thriller. These two genres are
represented clearly within the two separate sequences within our opening.
The establishing shot and first scene being in the woods; following three
characters running for their lives just before their death (working for both
genres), and the following scene being a flashback in a home office and two
detectives discussing a string of murders that are later linked to the first
sequence

3. Conventions are challenged through primarily our filming. We
wanted our sequence to be slightly different to other products out
there within our genre, so we decided to film the scene of the dead
bodies with a first-person, hand-held shot that resembles a found
footage film. It is a technique that is not seen often and gives our
opening something unique.

4. Our settings were largely stereotypical for an investigation and a
murder. The woods would be an obvious place to hide a dead body
and/or commit a murder thanks to its seclusion and foliage; with a
home office being a tranquil, neutral place to begin an investigation
for a detective. However, the fact that he (Detective Blake) did not
begin this research at work makes the whole situation more personal
to the character and opens up many questions, some leading to a
‘thrilling’ conclusion.

5. In terms of sound, the first scene featuring our found footage filming
type did not include any diegetic sound which challenges what is
usually seen in thrillers or horrors. While diegetic sound can add
tension, the fact that our sequence goes without it in combination
with our shaky-cam, found footage effect, it makes the entire
sequence more realistic; something that some horrors lack due to
their tendency to be overly-dramatic.